THE HARVEST MAN is the fourth book in Alex Grecian’s Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad historical mystery series featuring Inspector Walter Day and a host of investigators from the force on the hunt for a new murderer.

The blood has been cleaned, but the horrible images from the day that Inspector Day’s family was attacked have not yet faded. Day, now on desk duty at Scotland Yard nursing a leg injury, spends his days drinking, while his wife, Claire, spends hers avoiding rooms in the house so she doesn’t have to relive those terrible moments. The birth of their twin girls has also brought an influx of relatives to the house --- in-laws who aren’t exactly fond of Day or his choice of career --- which hasn’t necessarily helped matters on the personal front either. Day’s life is in disarray, with desk duty and the bad leg doing nothing for his career or temperament. His sergeant, Nevil Hammersmith, on whom he relied heavily for much of the police work in their investigations, is no longer with the force, having been let go for not following police procedure.

"If you're looking for a thriller with drama, mystery and a hint of darkness, this is your series. I‘m already eagerly anticipating the fifth book."

Both Day and Hammersmith are trying to figure out their next steps. They might be occupied elsewhere, but another killer has taken up residence in London. These graphic murders are being committed by an individual dubbed the Harvest Man. The police believe he’s hiding in attics and then attacking people in their sleep. The murders are vexing; Scotland Yard is aware that it needs Day’s help, but is slightly unwilling to ask, knowing that he’s dealing with so much --- both mentally and physically --- and unsure if he’s ready to be back investigating such crimes.

What I love about this series is the dark and gritty story that Grecian gives us. This isn’t the Victorian London where polite parlor discussions take place. There’s a murderer running around town carving up people as they sleep, and even though the Jack the Ripper fear has faded, he still hasn’t been caught. And while Day is drinking his days away, Hammersmith is crawling through back alleys on his personal unauthorized investigation into the murders of several women in Whitechapel, not wanting to let go of the Ripper case. The other members of the Squad, including Kingsley and his daughter, are also moving on with their lives. Kingsley is trying out new crime scene techniques, and Fiona is back home after helping Claire following the twins’ birth.

Grecian does an amazing job with the psychological aspects of the book. The Harvest Man, named after a spider that lives in attics, is a new form of terror for the Squad. In fact, the murders and the reasoning behind them are so creepy and strange. The Ripper fear was one thing, but the Harvest Man brings that fear to a new level. The people of London are now no longer safe in their own homes, thus adding an incredible edge.

If you're looking for a thriller with drama, mystery and a hint of darkness, this is your series. I‘m already eagerly anticipating the fifth book.